Friday, 29 March 2013

Grand Cabinet of the Dauphine

Marie-Josèphe of Saxony used this room for conversation and gambling with her ladies-in-waiting and friends. The room itself dates back to when it was a guards' room for the son of Louis XIV. Sadly, Louis-Philippe changed the entire decoration of the place when he restored the Bourbon monarchy and just a single piece remains of the original décor: a large console table. This table has now been placed underneath a large mirror (with a restored frame). Today the table contains a barometer made for Louis XVI before he became King - in fact this room belonged to Louis-Auguste before his coronation in 1774. A portrait of Louis XV - and several ministers - hangs in the room on a beautiful red wall.